If like pheasants, all deer were the same size, deer hunting would still be exciting. Add to this excitement the one in a thousand chance that a record book buck might come along, and it’s downright addictive. Kaden Holzbauer is a 14 year-old freshman at Parkston High School. On the evening of September 4th, 2021, he carved his name into the record book of trophy whitetails.

Kaden was on his first ever archery hunt with his father, Ryan, and his older brother, Kyler. They hunted from separate tree stands in Gregory County, and arrived at their posts around 5:30 P.M. A wee bit of excitement and anticipation filled the air as a monster whitetail buck had been captured on their trail camera although they had never actually seen him. Kaden was well prepared as he had sprayed down his clothing with Scent Killer and darkened his face with paint. He carried a Mathews Mission compound bow, and his Shields arrows were tipped with Rage broad-heads.

Kaden didn’t have to wait very long for the buck to show up, and little time elapsed between the sighting and final confrontation. Though the timber was so dense that Kaden saw only parts of the buck, he saw enough to know the buck was big-bodied. Kaden had previously ranged different points on the ground with his range finder, and didn’t need to range the buck before drawing his bow. The deer then stepped into an opening at 21 yards, turned broadside, and Kaden calmly, without being distracted by the massive antlers, placed his 20 yard pin behind the buck’s front shoulder and released his arrow.

The shot looked good as the buck ran from Kaden’s sight, but with feelings of apprehension, Kaden remained in his stand for half an hour for fear of jumping the buck. Immediately following the shot, Kayden tried to call his father and brother, but reception was sporadic. He then called Sadie, his mother. Both Sadie and Ryan are former Wagner students of mine, and I have been able to share their excitement.

Kaden eventually reported to his father and brother, and together they found ample blood where the buck had been standing. Unfortunately darkness fell before they were able to follow the blood trail, and they returned to Parkston for lights. Upon their return, they found the expired buck about 80 yards from the point of impact. It was a double lung kill.

Whitetails are known to be territorial. On this same property, the Holzbauers have found this same buck’s sheds from the past two years! That they came from Kayden’s buck is obvious. I asked Kaden if any of the deer magazines have contacted him and asked him for an exclusive story. One already had, but it didn’t ask for exclusive rights. The massive five-point antlers have rare double drop tines that measure seven and nine inches in length, and official measuring will follow a drying period. I’ll keep you posted.

Column readers in Omaha, Des Moines, and the Twin Cities tell me that mine is the best outdoor column in the region. I’m flattered, and while I enjoy a pat on the back, I don’t much believe it relates to writing ability. Readers and friends have supplied me with personal stories of world-class moose, Alaskan brown bears, trophy elephants, charging cape buffalo, and record-book deer like Kaden’s. Would a Minneapolis based column have access to more stories? I think not. Personal adventures add occasional color, but it’s where I live and the people around me that make this column.

Other than hunting with great guys, John’s expert guiding, and a fabulous lunch featuring Erdene’s homemade chicken noodle dumpling soup, our opening day pheasant hunt was disappointing. Twelve of us accounted for six birds. With good dogs, we might have bagged a bird apiece as we lost some. The second day was slightly better. Four years ago these same guys on the same property took their three-bird limits by 4:00 P.M. Some fortunate parties hunting north of Mitchell took a bird-and-a-half apiece. The good ol’ days are gone. Tell me why.

See you next week.